The St. Alban s Tidings

Transcription

1 V o l u m e X V I I I, I s s u e 7 / 8 The St. Alban s Tidings (Mostly Good!) J u l y / A u g u s t Dear People of St. Alban s, Soon after you receive this I will be headed to our denomination s General Convention in Austin, TX (July 5-13). This gathering of the larger church happens every three years. I will be attending for the first time as one of the clergy deputies from our diocese (having been elected at out diocesan convention in November 2016). Each diocese sends a deputation of 4 clergy and 4 lay members as well as alternate deputies. The active Bishops of the diocese are also present. The General Convention attends to the governance of the larger church and sets direction for Church for the next three years (think of our annual meeting writ large). As this is a business meeting the Convention attends to those matters you would expect electing people to boards and positions of governance for the larger church, approving a three year budget and voting on all manner of resolutions. Most days there is time for the legislative committees to meet (there are 24 legislative committees!) and legislative sessions for both Houses (the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops). In addition there are four joint sessions of the two Houses. Three of these will focus on the mission priorities set by our current Presiding Bishop racial reconciliation, evangelism and creation care. The fourth will focus of Program, Budget and Finance. And of course worship is woven throughout the 10 days, as well as meals and receptions for fellowship and time for connecting with friends and colleagues from across the Church. While there are no major contentious issues before the General Convention the convention will weigh in on matters from Prayer Book reform (from option 1 which provides for a more straightforward revision over the next 9 years to option 2 which will gather more comprehensive information of the current use of the BCP and provides for better translations of the BCP into Spanish, French, Creole and native languages) to a quite separate matter of expanding the Title IV disciplinary canons regarding sexual harassment to include lay leaders as well as clergy. To keep up with what is happening at General Convention staff from the Office of the Bishop will be posting every day to the diocesan Facebook page: Continued on page 4 A R C A T A, C A T H E R E V. S A R A L. P O T T E R, R E C T O R Saint Alban s is a community of disciples growing into the full maturity of Christ. Our mission as a community worshipping in the Episcopal tradition is to be devoted to God through prayer, study and action; faithful in welcoming the stranger and serving the needs of our parish and beyond.

2 P a g e 2 - J u l y / A u g u s t June 2018 Vestry Highlights Present: Emily Arents, Mary Bockover, Diana Cooper, Shirley Curtis, Ed Farrelly, Daniel Moyer, the Rev. Sara Potter, and Bob Webb. Ed Farrelly and Shirley Curtis reported on their interviews with Carolyn Willis, Parish Secretary, and Connie Webb, Sunday School coordinator, on the needs they perceived for improved technology. After additional input from Mtr. Nancy on the needs of the adult education program, the Vestry will be able to look at budgeting for the desired equipment and internet access. Emily Arents reported on the progress of forming a sabbatical planning team for Mtr. Sara s proposed sabbatical in mid Once the team is fully assembled, they hope to meet no later than September to begin work. Daniel Moyer walked the Vestry through the aspects of the solar system that will be installed on the south-facing roof of the nave. Installation will come after a new roof is put on that area, probably this fall. St. Alban s will need to provide volunteer labor to complete the project. Diana Cooper reported on the process for getting directional signs installed for St. Alban s. The Vestry decided to ask the city to install a standard sign, which the city will do for free, at the corner of Crescent and Chester, and to apply to the city for permission to have a larger Episcopal Church sign at the intersection of Crescent and Samoa. The Vestry worked on drawing up a mission statement and guidelines for outreach ministries at St. Alban s, which will be re-envisioned as Reconciliation Ministry. The Vestry hopes to complete work on this by the end of the summer. T h e S t. A l b a n s T i d i n g s Y o u r V e s t r y Shirley Curtis, Senior Warden awazzuk@att.net Bob Webb, Junior Warden spider.man@suddenlink.net Emily Arents cnmily1@gmail.com Mary Bockover Mary.bockover@humboldt.edu Diana Cooper dawcooper@gmail.com Ed Farrelly (760) edward.farrelly@gmail.com Daniel Moyer (925) danielmoyer24@gmail.com Liz Finney, Clerk finneyliz@gmail.com Dan Scofield, Treasurer d_m_scofield@yahoo.com New Office Hours for July-August Beginning on Monday, July 2 and continuing through the month of August the Church s office hours will be adjusted a half an hour later. The new hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We hope this change will better accommodate some staff needs and be better for those who need to stop by on their lunch hour. Please make a note of the change.

3 T h e S t. A l b a n s T i d i n g s J u l y / A u g u s t P a g e 3 Health Ministry at St. Alban's We at St. Alban s are blessed to have a wonderful group of children in our midst. So this comment by Fred Rogers really grabbed me the other day. "Anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me." As summer is upon us with more time to be with our children, we have the opportunity and capacity to influence our young folks, simply by the behaviors and choices we model in our own lives. A quote about helping young people comes from basketball coach John Wooden, "Young people need models, not critics." Teens don't need, "What's wrong with young people today?" Instead, they need us to model good values, strong character, and wellness. If you wonder if young people are really influenced by the important adults in their lives, here's one last quote to remind us that whether they appear to be listening or not, they are paying attention. Author Robert Fulgrum reminds us, "Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you." So, especially during this time when so many public figures in all walks of life are questionable models, let s remember these wise observations as we work to demonstrate our best selves to these precious kids. Emily Arents, RN, Parish Nurse Coffee Hour Clean-up Beginning this Sunday, July 1 and continuing through Sunday, August 19 our 10:30 a.m. coffee hour hosts will enjoy a much needed break from their ministry of hospitality. For those 8 weeks they will not be providing the customary light meal following worship. There will still be coffee and tea available (provided by our early service hosts thank you Nancy Dye, Carolyn Hunt, Ann McClary and Jane Foster!). We will need volunteers to clean-up the coffee and tea service each of those 8 weeks. This is an opportunity to do a good turn for the folks who feed us throughout the year. Sign-ups are available in the Parish Hall or contact Cathy Cox to help (408) Wanted: Used Clean Milk, Soup or Juice Cartons Camp Living Waters is in need of clean used cartons for construction of boats for the annual boat race. Don t send those containers to the recycling bin or worse the garbage can, rinse and bring them to St. Alban s and they will be given a new life as a sailing vessel to grace Redwood Creek.

4 P a g e 4 - J u l y / A u g u s t T h e S t. A l b a n s T i d i n g s Rector s Letter (Continued from page 1) For church nerds (or folks who just want to know more background) I recommend the following site with some short orientation videos especially 1, 4 and 5 which provide an introduction to the General Convention, history of the General Convention and overview the House rules: During General Convention I will be responding to communications when I can, which may be sporadic at best. The schedule each day is very full. Please also note, following General Convention I will be joining Aaron and the kids in Columbus, OH to visit family there. We will return just a few days shy of the start of Camp Living Waters. So for the month of July please direct questions and concerns to our parish secretary Carolyn Willis. She will forward your inquiry to our Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Priest Associate or Parish Nurse as appropriate. Please hold the convention in your daily prayers: Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel at General Convention for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessings, Sara+ Designated Offerings Thank you to everyone who gave to our mission offerings to date this year. You are a generous people! Food for the Poor $ 713 Bishop s Discretionary fund $ 529 Funds for Pathways and Camp Living Waters $1,400 Episcopal Community Services $ 366

5 T h e S t. A l b a n s T i d i n g s J u l y / A u g u s t P a g e 5 Spiritual Forum for July/August The Spiritual Forum is held between 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the Library A lively and spirited discussion of religion, philosophy, literature, history, and personal faith July 1 July 8 July 15 July 22 July 29 August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26 Vocation and Everyday Ministry: A Conversation with Ed Farrelly and his work in Animal Welfare Hillsdale College Lecture Series: An Introduction to C.S. Lewis: Writings and Significance Part I: "Introduction/Men Without Chests" (See article below) Hillsdale College Lecture Series: An Introduction to C.S. Lewis: Writings and Significance Part II: "The Way" (See article below) Hillsdale College Lecture Series: An Introduction to C.S. Lewis: Writings and Significance Part III: "Abolition of Man" (See article below) Pathways Youth Pilgrimage 2018 Report by the Youth of St. Alban's Andrew Curtis et al General Convention Debrief with the Very Rev. Sara Potter General Convention Debrief with the Very Rev. Sara Potter Vocation and Everyday Ministry: A Conversation with TBD Vocation and Everyday Ministry: A Conversation with TBD Sunday Adult Forum Presents An Introduction to C.S. Lewis: Writings and Significance The Sunday Adult Forum in July will feature video lectures from the Hillsdale College Lecture Series called An Introduction to C.S. Lewis: Writings and Significance. Each forum will feature a lecture video by Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn, also professor of politics and history, followed by discussion. You may find it helpful to read in advance Lewis short book The Abolition of Man, but it is not necessary. Here is the line-up: Continued on page 6

6 T h e S t. A l b a n s T i d i n g s J u l y / A u g u s t P a g e 6 Sunday Adult Forum (Continued from page 5) July 8 "Introduction / Men Without Chests" July 15 "The Way" July 22 "The Abolition of Man" C.S. Lewis is most widely known for his fiction and his Christian apologetics. However, he was also a professor at Oxford and later Cambridge where he was a first-rate scholar of English literature. In his philosophical work, The Abolition of Man, Lewis argued that truth, beauty, and the good are not merely a matter of personal preference. Teaching such a view, Lewis warned, would lead to the abolition of man. Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, is an independent, coeducational, residential liberal arts college whose focus is on ideas that advance civil and religious liberty. Hillsdale was the first American college to prohibit in its charter any discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin. Associated with the anti-slavery movement from its earliest days, it attracted to its campus anti-slavery leaders such as Frederick Douglass and Edward Everett. Its many programs include the Center for Constructive Alternatives, one of the largest college lecture series in America and the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, which holds seminars for high school teachers of civics and history. Return Your Outreach Survey by July 8 Since the beginning of 2018, St. Alban's has been going through a discernment process about its outreach. The Vestry is now surveying the parish about outreach. You can find a copy of the survey in the narthex and enclosed. Please pick one up, complete and return it there by Sunday, July 8. This discernment process started with the reading and discussion of the book Toxic Charities by Robert Lupton. This was followed by Adult Forums with representatives from the Arcata House, Food for People, Betty Chinn, the Forgotten Initiative and Rev. Tim Doty who talked about Haiti.

7 T h e S t. A l b a n s T i d i n g s J u l y / A u g u s t P a g e 7 Maureen Johannsen's Memorial Gift to be Used to Install Solar System Long time parishioner Maureen Johannsen, who was a member of St. Alban's for over 60 years, passed away last year. Maureen wanted her devotion to Christ and care for St. Alban's to continue past her death, so she remembered St. Alban's with an unrestricted gift of $25,000. Since receipt of this gift early last Fall, the Vestry has been considering the best use of this gift that would both honor Maureen appropriately as well as serve St. Alban's. After much consideration, the Vestry has decided to install a photovoltaic system aka solar panels. This will require a new roof beneath where the solar panels will be installed. By using Maureen's gift in this way, St. Alban's will realize both monetary and physical savings on its energy use, reduce its carbon footprint and will be friendlier to the environment. Saint Alban's electrical consumption, on average, is about 800 KWH/month, costing over $150/ month. For comparison, this is more than twice the usage of a California single family home. Saint Alban's consumes much more electricity during dark winter months than summer time. Further complicating the issue is solar panels produce most of their electricity during the long summer days. However, due to utility net metering, extra electricity produced during summer can be applied to offset our big winter electric bills. Offsetting 100 percent of our annual electrical usage with renewable energy requires approximately 7000 watts of solar panels. With cost of $10k, for a 7000 watt solar system, it will take about 5.5 years to payback the cost of the system. ($10k pv system/$150 monthly bill= 67 months/12 months per year=5.5 years for payback). The solar system should be functional for at least years. Often, during Prayers of the People, we express our concern for creation. Installation of a solar system is just one large step we are taking to be better stewards of the earth. If you are interested in St. Alban's taking other actions to be more green, let the Vestry know and, if there is enough interest, a creation care ministry could be established. You can also mark this on the outreach survey that is currently being circulated and due in by July 8.

8 Saint Alban s Episcopal Church 1675 Chester Avenue Arcata, California (707) Outreach Survey Due July 8 Meetings, Clubs, and Other Regularly Scheduled Events Weekly Gatherings Group Day and Place Time Contact Bible Study Wednesday, Library 6:30-7:30 p.m. Bob Webb Choir Rehearsal On Summer Break Nan Voss-Herlihy Spiritual Forum Sunday, Library 9:15 a.m. Mtr. Nancy Streufert Monthly Gatherings Group Day Time Contact Book Group 1st Monday, Parish Hall 6:00-8:00 p.m. Betty Price Craft Group 3rd Monday, Parish Hall 3:00-5:00 p.m. Evaonne Hendricks Vestry 3rd Sunday, Library 12:30-2:30 p.m. Shirley Curtis Wisdom Group 3rd Wednesday, Parish Hall 11:30-1:00 p.m. Worship Committee 1st Saturday, Library, every other month 10:00 a.m. Mtr. Sara Potter